Namecheap vs. GoDaddy: Which Company Should You Choose?

NameCheap and GoDaddy are two of the most popular domain registrars and web hosting providers on the market. They offer basically every service you need to set up and grow a website. However, considering both companies provide similar services, it can be difficult to figure out which option will work best for your needs.

Research is the best way to choose the right web host for you. That means comparing prices, features, ease of use, and other factors like ecommerce support. Once you know what NameCheap and GoDaddy offer in all of these aspects, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

In this article, we’ll compare Namecheap vs GoDaddy to help you choose the right domain registrar and web host for your needs. We’ll also talk about how both compare with NameHero and why you might consider using it instead. Let’s get to it!

An Introduction to Namecheap and GoDaddy

Let’s begin with a broad overview of GoDaddy and Namecheap. These companies are fairly similar in terms of the services they offer.

Namecheap is a well-known as a domain registrar. But, it also offers other services, including multiple types of hosting plans, online marketing and security services for websites, email hosting, and more:

GoDaddy offers virtually all the same services, but it’s known mostly as a web hosting company. With GoDaddy, you can manage domain registration, web hosting, and email hosting. With some GoDaddy plans, you also get access to a website builder:

Before we dive into our Namecheap comparison with GoDaddy, you might want to check out some other posts on this topic. In the past, we’ve also compared GoDaddy with Bluehost and Wix, in case you want to see how it fares against other web hosts and site builders.

Namecheap vs GoDaddy: 4 Factors Compared

In this section, we’re going to compare Namecheap and GoDaddy in terms of four factors. This will focus mostly on their web hosting services as that’s the core of what they offer.

1. Domain Registration and Web Hosting Services

Initially, Namecheap was solely a domain registrar. Over time, they introduced several web hosting solutions to gain a foothold in that part of the market.

Today, Namecheap offers a broad range of related services outside of domain registrations. You can use it to search the WHOIS database, set up a custom Domain Name Server (DNS), register decentralized domains, and more.

When it comes to other web services, Namecheap offers versatile hosting options. The company provides shared hosting, dedicated hosting, virtual private server (VPS) plans, reseller options, and more. It also features managed WordPress hosting plans under the EasyWP umbrella:

GoDaddy, on the other hand, is a web host first. But, it also offers a broad range of domain registration services and related options. You can use GoDodaddy to register a domain, participate in auctions for premium names, get domain appraisals, and more:

When it comes to web hosting, GoDaddy also covers a lot of bases. It offers shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated plans. Like Namecheap, it also has managed WordPress hosting options and WooCommerce-specific plans. It’s worth noting most of their plans come with a free domain:

Considering that Namecheap and GoDaddy are so similar in terms of what services they offer, you’ll need to consider other factors when making a decision. That means taking into account ease of use, pricing, and even ecommerce potential.

2. Ease of Use and Website Builders

Namecheap features a very user-friendly dashboard that enables you to manage all its services. It’s also easy to sign up for hosting plans and get to work on your website.

One major downside of using Namecheap is that it doesn’t offer a custom page builder. That means you need to figure out other solutions if you want to build a website without using any code.

This is not as much of an issue if you use their managed WordPress hosting plans, since you get access to the Block Editor. The same applies with GoDaddy and their own managed WordPress plans.

On the other hand, GoDaddy does offer a custom website builder. The builder uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you set up a website using its library of pre-built designs:

Ultimately, this could make GoDaddy a better option if you’re working on your first website and not using WordPress.

3. Ecommerce Potential

Next, let’s put Namecheap vs GoDaddy in terms of ecommerce potential.

Namecheap doesn’t offer ecommerce-specific services. That means none of its hosting plans are geared specifically toward online stores. If you want a relatively simple way to set up an online store with Namecheap, the best approach might be to opt for their WordPress hosting plans alongside WooCommerce.

Meanwhile, GoDaddy gives you several options for ecommerce projects. It offers ecommerce-focused plans that enable you to use its website builder to set up an online store:

If you want to go the WordPress route, GoDaddy also features WooCommerce-specific plans. These plans come with WordPress and WooCommerce installed already, and you give you a selection of premium themes to use with your store.

4. Pricing

Lastly, let’s take a look at the costs associated with each of these providers.

Namecheap has an edge when it comes to web hosting. If we’re comparing shared plans (the entry option for most hosting providers), Namecheap is significantly cheaper:

With Namecheap, you get shared hosting plans starting at $4.48 per month. Meanwhile, with GoDaddy, those prices go up to $11.99 per month (prices below are if you pay for 3 years upfront):

This same trend holds with WordPress hosting. Namecheap offer plans that start at $6.88 per month while GoDaddy’s starter tier costs $14.99.

It’s also important to make sure that you read the fine print when selecting a plan with either provider. That’s because they often advertise lower prices but for longer durations, and renewal prices can be significantly higher than what’s being marketed.

Overall, when comparing the costs of Namecheap vs GoDaddy, the former takes the lead. GoDaddy offers a broader range of plans, including ecommerce options, but at relatively higher prices.

NameHero: Your Best Option for Domain Registration and WordPress Hosting

Ultimately, your choice of domain registrar and web host will probably come down to what provider offers the best value for the money. In that regard, NameHero has an edge over both Namecheap and GoDaddy.

With NameHero, you can register domains and get access to different types of hosting plans, all using the same company. When it comes to domains, NameHero offers some of the most accessible prices you can find and a simple registration process:

With NameHero, you also get access to features such as domain privacy, DNS management, and email forwarding. (You won’t need the latter if you use NameHero’s email hosting plans, though.)

What’s more, all of the NameHero hosting plans come with unlimited email accounts, in case you don’t want to pay for email hosting separately. Some shared web hosting plans also include a free domain name, which can help you reduce costs further. Plus, you get a free SSL certificate with every plan:

As we mentioned, WordPress is the best option if you’re working on your first website, as it’s highly intuitive and gives you full freedom over the website building experience:

You can build your WordPress site without touching a line of code, thanks to the block editor and Site Editor. If you need a WordPress-specific hosting service, NameHero has you covered too.

What’s more, every web hosting plan comes with a user-friendly interface you can use to manage your domains, emails, and websites. With NameHero, you can save money while still getting access to features that are comparable to what GoDaddy and Namecheap provide (and, in many cases, better).

Conclusion

Using a single company that offers both domain registration and web hosting can be smart, as it enables you to manage your website and its resources in one place. Both NameCheap and GoDaddy fit this criteria.

However, if you’re looking for another option, consider using NameHero. When you opt for this quality provider, you’ll get access to a broad range of plans, including options for WordPress and ecommerce sites. Plus, all NameHero plans come with free email hosting and some tiers also offer a free domain when you sign up.

Do you have any questions about Namecheap, GoDaddy, or NameHero? Let us know in the comments section below!